In our very first PDP Live Session, UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright demonstrates a 4 v 4 + 4 possession and positional practice.Working with twelve U15 players, Dave demonstrates how coaches can deliver an opposed passing and possession practice with a number of technical aims. This practice provides high repetition of passing receiving skills under pressure, variety of decision-making and encourages players to take up positions in space so they can play forward early.Dave includes some individual challenges for central players and goalkeepers as well as working on quick transition. This session can be adapted from 9-15 players and distances adjusted to alter difficulty in or out of possession. Dave will talk through what he’s observing as the session unfolds and work with the players on taking risks, encourage players to decide when to keep possession or progress with the ball, work on different receiving shapes and how to break lines with forward passes.
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Lead Researcher, James Vaughan shares part four of the FC Barcelona series, developed after James’ 12 months living in Barcelona. In this discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright hosts James in a conversation on the historical...
Social dynamics are a crucial part of any team environment. Integrating new players and ensuring they have a positive experience is a key component of coaching. In this article, new PDP Contributor & PhD Candidate at La Trobe University, Dianna...
The question this week comes from Chris, via email: “How do I help young players with their confidence when they are showing signs of being apprehensive or nervous about getting more involved at training?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Each...
How can parents and coaches help young players overcome a perfectionist mindset? Chief Content Officer at Changing the Game Project, Reed Maltbie shares a fantastic article around some of the modern challenges parents and coaches face with perfectionism on the...
The question this week comes from Elliott, via Twitter: “How do coaches structure sessions? I know it depends on the topic, but I’d love to hear more from a typical session?” Additional resources: Members Webinar: Fundamentals of Session Design...
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
What experience are you delivering as a coach and what legacy are you leaving for young people? PE Teacher and blogger, Sporticus reflects on his own practice and evolution as a coach, outlining the importance of creating environments for children...
Paul S. Glazier The Big Idea It’s GUT check time! We are all familiar with this cliché in sports performance: tests of gameness, courage, fortitude, stick-to-itiveness. But less familiar is another meaning of GUT. Beginning roughly in the late 1970s...
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In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright hosts Birmingham City Assistant Academy Manager, Stuart English. Stuart has vast experience in player development having worked at Luton Town FC, Brentford FC and Birmingham City. In his role at BCFC, Stuart...
Coach and researcher, Ben Galloway shares a video about the importance of opposition in session design and of interactions between players in skill acquisition. In his video below, ‘Attuning to Others’, Ben outlines how football interactions emerge as a result...
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
The question this week comes from Sarah, via email: “Should you specialise, or coach across all age groups?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Each week, we will choose a key question from our community for discussion. In order to build a...
Throughout sports history there have been examples of militant coaches and stories of those who go too far on the sideline. However, the line can be crossed and coaches must recognise the position of influence they have on young athletes...
Christina Salmivalli The Big Idea This review paper was published in the journal Aggression and Violent Behavior. Its subject is bullying. While its context is the classroom, what is reported in the research entails the fields of play as well. ...
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What are the benefits of learners exploring their environment and self-correcting? How can a coach guide this discovery? Founder of TOVO Academy in Barcelona, Todd Beane shares his excellent blog on the idea of discovery learning. I have six...
Sharing knowledge, approaching coaching in an evidence-based manner and accepting what we don’t know can only add to player development environments. Coach developer, researcher and regular PDP contributor, Mark O’Sullivan discusses the complexity of the player development environment and the...
Tony Readings is an International Coach who has attended two Olympics and three FIFA Women’s World Cups with the New Zealand Women’s team. He is the holder of the AFC Pro License and the UEFA A license and has been...
Aidan Moran The Big Idea When it comes to research in cognitive psychology, until fairly recently there had been little interest in studying sport-related mentality. In its early history, the typical cognitive psychology researcher was quite comfortable interpreting human mental activity...
Many believe football is a sport in which early specialisation is important, but is it actually early specialisation or early engagement that players really need? There is little doubt playing with a ball from an early age is beneficial, but should organised...
In this Live Webinar replay PhD Candidate & Researcher, Lara Mossman joins Player Development Project for a Masterclass on Positive Psychology in Coaching. Lara is a regular magazine and blog contributor to PDP and an expert in her field, currently advising...
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
How do we break down self-imposed barriers? How do our own limiting beliefs affect coaching performance? Founder of Fit Across Cultures & cultural intelligence expert, Susan Salzbrenner examines just how you can navigate around your own invisible rope. I recently...
Kristjaan Speakman has been involved in player development for almost two decades. He is leading a program at Birmingham City FC Academy where he emphasises the value of having an incredibly strong team and focusing the curriculum around a safe...
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Brisbane Roar FCIn this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright hosts Wellington Phoenix FC Academy Director, Paul Temple. Paul holds a UEFA A license and is alongside his role as Academy Director at Wellington Phoenix, (New Zealand’s only A-League club) and is...
Masculinity plays a huge role in how male coaches communicate and behave and how young men and boys express themselves in sporting environments. Sports teacher & rugby coach, David Sharkey shares a blog about his own ambitions to redefine masculinity...
The question this week comes from Pete, via the PDP Facebook Page: “I see a lot of passing patterns online. What do you think of them?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Each week, we will choose a key question from...
How do you decide what coaching practices to deliver? And what process do you follow when designing the practice? FA Senior Youth Coach Educator and regular PDP contributor, Ben Bartlett shares an article from Hive Learning which provides steps 1 and 2...
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor and UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright shares a presentation on how coaches can develop individuals within the group.Dave has previously presented this content at a State Coaching Conference in Melbourne and cites examples from his time at Fulham FC, shares practical examples and taps into various PDP experts....
The question this week comes from Neil, via the PDP Innovation Space: “I start coaching a University team this month. I have not been involved with them before and clearly there will be new students involved for the first time...
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
The question this week comes from Spence, via the PDP Facebook Page: “My focus as a coach is developing my players over winning. However, winning games is very important to my girls team and sometimes they get frustrated by my...